An after school club that meets at King Edward Hall has just celebrated its one year anniversary. Cool4School was started by Rashid Moaddel, after falling in love with the area. Originally from Peckham/Dulwich, he moved down to Sussex working in roles at two local schools, including teaching swimming to children at Ardingly College. Rashid started as a lifeguard moving on to qualifying as a personal trainer and swim teacher.

Rashid set up and ran a holiday club with a business partner at Dulwich College Sports Club for 15 years, before the pandemic. “During Covid I focused on online personal training classes which we still run today, working with SEN children via webcam,” he explained, “but once the world had begun to return to normal, I really missed the interaction with the children – so I looked for an opportunity to move back into education.”

Following the closure of the after school club provision at Blackthorns Academy, Rashid decided to start up on his own. Cool4School operates after school five days a week from King Edward Hall, and will be expanding to include Saturday clubs after the February half term. “We are keen to not only open the minds of our children but also work with and support local businesses, so we have collaborated with Tamasha (local Indian restaurant) and That’s Amore Italian, for special food trips and events in the last year. ‘’We also make good use of the Common and play park nearby.”

Following his personal training experience and drama background, Rashid includes traditional games and also non-contact boxing sessions! Embracing expansion and growth, Rashid has opened up two new settings (Scaynes Hill and Ardingly) during the year too – proudly welcoming 167 youngsters through the doors of his clubs in the first 12 months. Reinvesting profits back into schools for essential equipment and resources, you may recognise the business name as Cool4School have just sponsored new kit for one of the Lindfield Juniors football teams too!